Phonograph record storage carrier



6, 1966 D. c. SEFTON PHONOGRAPH RECORD STORAGE CARRIER Filed June 7, 1965 [N VENT 0R. DANlEL C. SEFTON AHorne s United States Patent 3,2sassa PHUNQGRAPH RECORD STORAGE CARRIER Daniel 11. Sefton, 69 S. Whitcomh, Indianapolis, Ind. Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 461,849 3 Claims. (Cl. 22448) The present invention relates to a storage carrier, primarily intended for facilitating the storage and facile transportation of phonograph records, though it will be apparent as the disclosure proceeds that the device is equally well adapted for storage and transportation of other types of perforated, discoid elements.

Informal record parties are an established phenomenon of present-day, teen-age life. Most adolescents have record players and collections of records, and it is not uncommon for a group to gather, with their respective collections, at one home and to spend hours dancing to, or merely listening to, the favorite records of each member of the group. Unless some means is provided for maintaining segregation, it is often difficult, after such a party, for each individual to gather together his own records to take home with him.

Even at home, neat storage of a collection of records becomes a problem unless a specific and particularlydesigned cabinet, rack or the like is available.

Transportation of a plurality of phonograph records, even between houses in a common neighborhood, without damage to the records is difficult. If a number of records are placed in a box which does not accurately fit them, they will slide in contact as the box is being carried, with resultant damage to the grooved surfaces. If they are carried loosely in the hand, in a bag or the like, they are likely to be spilled with resultant damage.

The primary object of the present invention, then, is to provide a rack whereon a plurality of such records may be retained in neat stacks, will be held against spillage or loss and will be retained against significant relative movement, even during transportation. A further object of the invention is to provide, in such a rack, readily manipulatable means whereby the records will be retained against dislodgment but may be released for removal or replacement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in such a rack, retaining means which will serve, as well, as a handle whereby the rack may conveniently be carried.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack constructed in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the manner in which phonograph records or similar perforated, discoid elements may be stored thereon for ready transportation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same, drawn to a somewhat reduced scale, showing the retainer means shifted to a position to release one stack of elements, parts being illustrated in section for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section, drawn to an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a similar section taken substantially on the line 4l-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that I have illustrated a base which may be a Patented August 16, 1966 block of wood, metal, plastic or the like and from which are supported two upstanding, parallel, laterally spaced posts 11 and 12 spanned near their upper ends by a cross bar 13. The post 11 is adapted to receive a plurality of discoid elements 14 and the post 12 is adapted to receive a similar plurality of discoid elements 15, each post being cylindrical in horizontal cross section and having a diameter substantially conforming to the diameter of the perforation 16 through each of the elements 14 or 15. It will be apparent that the center distance between the posts 11 and 12 slightly exceeds the diameter of each of the elements 14 or 15 so that a stack of such elements may be arranged on each of the posts without interference.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the base 10 is formed with an upwardly opening socket 17 which snugly receives the proximal end of the post 11. Said post end is centrally formed with a threaded socket 18 receiving a screw 19 whose head 20 is disposed in a counterbore or cavity 21 in the lower surface of the base 10, whereby the post 11 is firmly secured to the base. Similarly, a second socket 22 is formed in the upper sur face of the base at a suitable distance from the socket 17, said socket 22 receiving the proximal end of the post 12 which is formed with a threaded socket 23 receiving a screw 24 whose head 25 is disposed in a counterbore or cavity 26 in the lower surface of the base 10.

Near its distal end, the post 11 is formed with a radial, blind socket 27 opening toward the post 12; and the post 12 is formed with a straight-through, diametrical bore 28 axially aligned with the socket 27. The socket 27 and bore 28 are proportioned and designed snugly to receive the cross bar 13. As shown, said cross bar is a tubular element; but it will be understood that it could be a dowell and that it may be made from any suitable material of reasonable strength, such as steel, aluminum, plastic, wood or the like.

On its surface remote from the post 11, the post 12 is formed with a flattened recess 29 intersecting the bore 28. A threaded socket 30 opens through the flat 29 immediately above the bore 28 to receive a screw 31 which penetrates a vertical slot 32 in a slidable latch member 33, the screw head 34 overlapping the slot to retain the latch member in place in the recess 29. The latch member is so proportioned and designed that, when in its illustrated, retracted position, it will not interfere with withdrawal of the cross bar 13 to or beyond the position of FIG. 2. The cross bar 13 is of such length that, when its righthand end as viewed in FIG. 2 is fully seated in socket 27, its lefthand end will be positioned slightly to the right of the flat 29. The latch member 33 is provided with an outturned tongue 35 whereby, when the cross bar is so positioned, said latch member may be moved downwardly to overlie the lefthand end of the cross bar, thus locking said cross bar in the position of FIG. 1.

It will be apparent that, when the cross bar is in the position of FIG. 2, records may be added to, or removed from, the stack which is threaded on the post 11, but records which are mounted on the post 12 are retained against removal. When the cross bar 13 is fully withdrawn from the bore 28, of course records may be freely added to or removed from the stack on the post 12. When, however, the cross bar is in the position of FIG. 1, records are retained against removal from both stacks. Since the cross bar, when in the latter position, is centered over the base 10, it serves as a convenient handle whereby the loaded rack may be carried from place to place without fear of damage to the records stackEdon the respective posts.

Preferably, a cover pad 36 of felt or similar material will be secured to the upper surface of the base 10 to protect the bottom record on each post and desirably additional corner pads 37 will be provided to protect other furniture from damage if bumped by the rack. If desired, a further protective covering (not shown) may be applied to the bottom surface of the base 10.

I claim as my invention:

1. A storage carrier for centrally-perforated discoid elements comprising a base, a pair of posts rigidly supported from said base and upstanding therefrom in a common direction in substantially parallel relation, at least one of said posts having a diameter conforming to that of the perforation in such an element, one of said posts being formed near its distal end with a radial socket, the other of said posts being formed with a diametral bore therethrough coaxial with said socket, and a cross bar having one end seated in said socket and having its other end received in said bore, said cross bar being Withdrawable through said bore.

2. A storage carrier for centrally-perforated discoid elements comprising a base, a pair of posts rigidly supported from said base and upstanding therefrom in a common direction in substantially parallel relation, at least one of said posts having a diameter conforming to that of the perforation in such an element, one of said posts being formed near its distal end with a radial socket, the other of said posts being formed with a diametral bore therethrough coaxial with said socket, a cross bar having one end seated in said socket and having its other end received in said bore, said cross bar being withdraw- 4- able through said bore, and a retractable latch member cooperable with said bar and with one of said posts at times to prevent such Withdrawal.

3. A storage carrier for centrally-perforated discoid elements comprising a base, a pair of posts rigidly supported from said base and upstanding therefrom in a common direction in substantially parallel relation, at least one of said posts having a diameter conforming to that of the perforation in such an element, one of said posts being formed near its distal end with a radial socket, the other of said posts being formed with a diametral bore therethrough coaxial With said socket, a cross bar having one end seated in said socket and having its other end received in said bore, said cross bar being withdrawable through said bore, and a latch piece movably carried by said other post and shiftable into and out of a position overlying that end of said bore remote from said one post.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,700,265 1/1929 Kissam. 2,278,214 3/1942 Pearson. 2,338,930 1/1944 Gordon 22445 X 3,224,655 12/1965 Buchanan et al. 22448 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

F. WERNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STORAGE CARRIER FOR CENTRALLY-PERFORATED DISCOID ELEMENTS COMRPISING A BASE, A PAIR OF POSTS RIGIDLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID BASE AND UPSTANDING THEREFROM IN A COMMON DIRECTION IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID POSTS HAVING A DIAMETER CONFORMING TO THAT OF THE PERFORATION IN SUCH AN ELEMENT, ONE OF SAID POSTS BEING FORMED NEAR ITS DISTAL END WITH A RADIAL SOCKET, THE OTHER OF SAID POSTS BEING FORMED WITH A DIAMETRAL BORE THERETHROUGH COAXIAL WITH SAID SOCKET, AND A CROSS BAR HAVING ONE END SEATED IN SAID SOCKET, AND HAVING ITS OTHER END RECEIVED IN SAID BORE, SAID CROSS BAR BEING WITHDRAWABLE THROUGH SAID BORE 